Toy flying saucer



Nov.'17, 1953 c. H. VAN HARTESVELD'T 2,659,178

TOY FLYING SAUCER Filed Dec. 50, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l "luv rm 1% ICarroZZ H. IimHarteqveldf Nov. 17, 1953 c. H. VAN HARTESVELDT ,659,178

TOY FLYING SAUCER Filed Dec. 50, 1950 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ETFE'ZTZLUTPatented Nov. 17, 1953 UNI ED Tor LY AUC B I Y C rtain;{vaiijn tesveiaeCleveland; Ohio Application December 30, 1950, Serial No. 203,735 U l tThis invention relates to aircraft ofithe ,rotating wing type, andparticularly deals with. atoy having a rotatable disk and acooperatingnon rotating disk, which coact to produce" an air foilsection of goodaerodynam ic shapewhich is capable of gyroscopicstabilized night when the rotatable disk is rotated with'a forwardlyapplied thrust. I t I .1"

v in one embodiment of this invention, the toy aircraft is composed of acircular radially flanged inverted bowl-shaped wing member and a floordisk of inverted cone shape spanning the op n bottom of the bowl andequipped with a tail rudder to hold the floor disk against rotation whenthe bowl is spinning in flight. Inthis form, the toy is operatedby'flinging it into the air with a forward spinning motion that willrotate the bowl. As the bowl advances in the air, the air stream flowingpast the tail will hold the floor against rotation. The bowl and conicalfloor cooperate to provide a good aerodynamic shape which will lift thetoy into the air. In addition, the conical shape of the floor providesstability in flight in a manneranalogous to the dihedral angle inairplane wings.- This stability is significant when gyroscopic stabilitydecreases as. the rota tion of' the bowl slows down. A N

If desired, the toy can be equipped with asim lated bomb or parachutethat will'be automaticah 1y releasedthrough the floor upon rotation ofthe bowl through a predetermined numbero'f revolutions. The floor mayalso be equipped with a simulated pilot station ndthe like. 7

In another embodiment of the invention, bowl is equipped with aremovable compressed air cartridge discharging tangentiallyto effecthigh speed rotation of the bowl. The floor, in this form of theinvention, is equipped with a removable compressed gas cartridgedischarging toward the rear of the toy for creating a forward thrust.The two cartridges are easily mounted in clips or other carriagesrespectively provided on the floor and in the bowl. 1 r r I If desired,the floor member can be equipped witha radial flange projecting beyondthe'bowl and the bowl can then be stationary in flight while the floorrotates. In this form, a simulated pilot stationand the like canbesuspended from the non-rotating 'bowl.

The toy of this invention can be made of metal, plastic, pressedcardboard, or the like lightweight rigidsheet material,

To permit access to the'interior of the toy, the

relatively rotating floor and bowl members are preferably easilyseparated. A wing nut and bolt assembly affords a convenient demountableconlSJCIaims. (01. 46- 76) 2 .nectionmember holding thebowl and floor indetachable relat'ivelyiro't'atingrelation. w 1" It is, then, an objectof'this invention to pro?- ,vide a toy flying saucer. "j Anotherobjectof the invention is to provide a toy rotary ring aircraft composedof ahollow domed top disk and. a second relatively rotatable disk spanningthe hollow" dome and connected therewith wherein the twodisksjcoop'eratetoipro; vide an airfoil sectionfhaving 'goodaerodynaniic lift to provideprolonged stabilized flight whenthe circular domedmemb'er is rotatedunder-"forward thrust.

Another object of the inventionis tofp'rovide'ja toy flying saucercomposed'of' a circular inv'erted bowl and a disk spanning the openbottom oflthe bowl in relatively rotatable relation with the bowl. vAspecificobject of this invention is to provide a toy flying saucercomposed of an inverted circular bowl, a frusto conical floor spanningthe open bottom ofthe bowl, and a spindle rotatably carrying thefloorand detachably anchored in the top of. the bowl. l Another specificobject of the invention is to provide a toy flying'saucer composed of acircular inverted bowl with a flat radial rim flange, a substantiallyflat domed top, and an aerodynamic'ally shaped lift surface between theflange andtop together with an inverted frusto-conical" floor diskhaving a peripheryflush with the rirnflan'g'e and a central hub at alevel beneathlthe rim flange receiving a spindle assembly carried by thetop of the bowl to connect the bowl and jfloorfin relatively rotatablerelation. 1 .T Other and further objects of the invention, will beapparent .to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of preferredexamples, illustrate three embodiments of the invention. g On thedrawings: V Figure 1 is a top plan view of oneform of flying sauceraccording to this invention. 1 3

Figure 2 is a diametric vertical cross-sectional view taken along theline II-II of Figure Figure 3 is a. fragmentary view similar to Figure 2illustrating another'position of the bombrelease mechanism. j i I giFigureiis a top plan view of another formot flying saucer according-tothis invention. Figure 5 is a diametric vertical cross-section viewtakenalong theline V-V of Fi ure 4. Figure 6 is a horizontalcross-sectional" with parts in top VI- VI of Figure 5 ma taken alongithe'1 ne Figure 7 is a view'similar 2 dim 3 showing another embodimentwherein the bowl member is stationary and the floor rotates.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 to 3, the reference numeral ill designates a toy flyingsaucer of a type to be manually propelled. The device I is composed ofan inverted circular bowl H, an inverted frustoconical floor disk [2, aspindle assembly l3, a bomb and release assembly I4, and acounterbalancing pilot station 15.

The inverted bowl 1 E has a circular flat radially extending rim flangeor lip Ha, a substantially flat top dome lib, and an annular bowed sideWall portion llc between the lip and dome. To obtain increased stabilityin flight the rim flange I la alternately may be flared upward at anangle which will make the flange a section of a cone as in theembodiment of Fig. 7. The angle may be selected to make the rim flangeappear to be an extension of the conical floor 12 or even steeperdepending upon the degree of flight stability desired. The annularportion He has a good aerodynamic shape. Ports l6 are preferablyprovided in the section He and these ports are covered with atransparent sheet material H to provide windows for the device.Alternately, the bowl ll may be composed of transparent plastic materialwhich is made translucent or opaque in the rim and dome areas thereof soas to provide a transparent annular portion ducing a continuous window.

The floor 12 has a circular flat cone portion [2a with a peripherysubstantially flush with the rim flange Ila. The flat cone 12a spans theopen bottom of the bowl and has a thickened central boss portion l2bafiording a bearing. The central portion of the floor 12a extendsbeneath the level of the rim flange Ha to coact with the bowl forproducing a good aerodynamic air foil section.

The spindle assembly I3 is composed of a headed bolt 18 having a roundedhead 18a and a threaded shank 181), a first nut 19 threaded on the shank18?) into closely spaced relation with the head 8a, a second nut 20threaded on the shank l'8b in spaced relation from the first nut, and awing nut 21 threaded on the end of the shank. The shank [81) projectsfreely through the boss 12b of the floor 12. The head [8a underlies theboss portion I2b of the floor and the nut l9 overlies this boss portionand is spaced relative to the head so that the floor rotates freely onthe bolt.

The central portion of the dome Hb preferably has a thickened boss I Idreceiving the shank 18b therethrough. The nut 20 is positioned on theshank lBb so that when it is bottomed against the boss lld, the bolt [8will hold the floor 12 so that its periphery is flush with the rimflange Ila.

The wing nut 2| is threaded on the shank 1812 on top of the dome llb sothat the bolt 18 will be tightly clamped to the bowl.

In operation of the flying saucer H], the bowl rotates to carry the bolt18 therewith, while the floor 12, being freely rotatable relative to thebolt, will remain in non-rotatable relation. For this purpose, the floorI2 is equipped with a tailpiece 22 which extends under the lip or flangeNa in closely spaced relation and has an upturned vertical rudder 22a onthe outer end thereof. This rudder lies in the slipstream of the bowland holds the floor against rotation.

The bomb and release assembly 14 includes a pair of upstanding aperturedlugs 23 on top- He pro of the floor 12 between the boss portion HI; andthe outer periphery of the floor. A pin 24 is slidably inserted throughthe apertures in the lugs 23 and spans the space between the lugs. Thisspace between the lugs registers with an aperture l2c in the floor [2. Aweight 25 simulating a bomb has an apertured ear 25a on the upper endthereof freely receiving the pin 24 therethrough. The bomb projectsbetween the lugs 23 and through the aperture 120.

The pin 24 has an eye end 24a to which is tied ,a thread or string 26.The other end of the string or thread is tied to the shank I8?) of thebolt l8.

As illustrated in Figure 3, when the bowl H rotates, the thread orstring 26 is wound up on the shank Nb and eventually is made taut topull the pin 24 out of the lugs 23 and ear 25a, whereupon the bomb 25will be released to drop through the aperture 120.

In order to properly balance the floor l2, a pilot station I5 isprovided on the floor in diametric opposed relation relative to the tailassembly 22. The bomb assembly l4 may then be located to provide thebest balance of the entire floor assembly around the central boss l2b.This pilot station I5, as shown in Figure 2, may be composed of a pilotseat 26, a figure 21 simulating a pilot, and means 28 simulating amechanism for guiding the flying saucer.

The wing nut 21 is readily removed from the bolt (8 to separate thefloor from the bowl, thereby giving access to the bomb release mechanismfor reassembling the same.

The device l0 operates by being manually thrown into the air with aflinging mot-ion causing the bowl II to spin. The air foil defined bythe bowl and floor afiords a good lift surface without appreciable drag,since the area lie of the bowl has a good aerodynamic shape while theinverted cone shape of the floor portion 12a coacts therewith to affordgood air flow properties. In addition, the frusto-conical shape impartsrigidity to the floor, so that it can be made of relatively light gaugematerial. As the bowl rotates in flight, the thread 26 is wrapped up onthe spindle assembly to release the bomb, and, after the bomb has beenreleased, the light pin 24 can rotate with the spindle. The floor isheld against rotation by the slip stream action on the tail rudder 22aand the floor is balanced by the diametrically opposed arrangement ofthe bomb release and pilot station. If desired, the bomb release couldbe replaced with a parachuteequipped figure.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6, the flying saucer 30 iscomposed of an inverted bowl 3|, 9, floor disk 32, and a spindleassembly 33 substantially similar to the bowl, floor, and spindleassembly of the flying saucer 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3. Thus the bowl31 has a flat radial lip or rim flange 3|a, a substantially flat domedtop 31b, and an annular bowed portion 3lc affording a lift surface. Thefloor 32 is in the form of a flat inverted cone and has its outerperiphery substantially flush with the flange Ma. The spindle assemblycooperates with the floor and bowl in the same manner described inFigures 1 to 3.

The bowl 3| has a pair of diametrically opposed clips 34 and 35 on theinner face of the lip portion 310 thereof. The clip 34 is adjacent athickened boss portion 36 on the inner face of this lip portion 310.This boss portion 36 has a passageway 36a there'through which openstangentially on theouter face of. the lip portion 3|c as'best shown-inFigure 6; The bosspor- 'tion 36 carries a'seal'ring 3l at its inner end.A compressed gas cartridge 38 of thetype commonly used for charged waterbottles is conveniently snapped into the clip 34 with its nose 'endsealed against the seal 31 to discharge through the passageway 36.Gasreleased from the cartridge will-be discharged tangentially from thelip surface 3|c thereby causing the-bowl to rotate.

1 The opposed clip 35 is equipped with a weight -39" to counterbalancethe weight of thecartridge 33 mat-I w A clip 40 isalsoprovided-on"the-floor-32 to carry a'second compressed gas cartridge4| which discharges through a tube 42 extending through the floor andfacing in a radial direction so that compressed gas dischargedtherethrough'will'have a forward propelling effect on the assembly. Thefloor .32 is, preferably equipped with a. thickened portion orcounterweight 43 in diametric oppositerelation tothe cartridge 4| tocounterbalan'cthe weight of the cartridge.

The flyin saucer 30 of Figures 4 to 6 operates by puncturing the nozzlesof the cartridges 38 and 4|, whereuponcompressed gas dischargedtangentially throughthe passage 36 will cause the inverted bowl 3|- torotate, while gas discharged radially through the tube 42 will create a"forward thrust. Since the floor and bowl coact to provide a good'airfoil section having a liftefiect on the unit, the device will soarin theair under stable-flight. conditions until the gases from the cartridgesare exhausted.

In the embodiment of Figure '7, the toy 40 has a non-rotating invertedbowl 4|, a rotating floor 42, a spindle assembly 43- similar to l3 and33 connecting the bowl and floor, a rudder 44 on the outside of the bowl4|, and a pilot and station 45 on the inside of the bowl. The bowl 4|does not have a rim flange, but is equipped with a tail rudder 44 and isotherwise the same as the bowl I I or 3|. The floor 42 is a flat conelike the floor I2 or 32, but underlies the bottom edge 4la of the bowland projects therebeyond to form a rim flange 42a. The toy 40 operatesin the same manner as the toy H), but the floor rotates while the rudderholds the bowl against rotation.

From the above description it will be understood that the inventionprovides a toy flying saucer or rotating wing aircraft havinggyroscopically stabilized flight capacity induced by relatively rotatingbowl and floor members.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A toy flying saucer which comprises an inverted bowl having acircular radial rim flange, a substantially flat dome, and a liftsurface of aerodynamic shape between the flange and dome, a floor diskflush with the rim flange around the inner periphery of the flange andspanning the open bottom of the bowl, and means connecting the center ofthe floor disk and the dome of the bowl in relatively rotatablerelation.

2. A toy rotary wing aircraft which comprises an inverted bowl, a floordisk spanning the open bottom of the bowl, means connecting the floordisk and bowl in relatively rotatable relation, and said bowl coactingwith said floor to provide an 6 air foil sectionadapted to lifttheassembly-lwhen propelled while the bowl rotates relative-toth'e floorto stabilize flight of the assembly.

3. A toy flying saucer which comprisesaninverted bowl having a circularrim flange ex tending radiallytherefrom and a'hollow dome portion with aside'face aifording an aerodynamic lift surface, a disk spanning thebottom of the hollowdome, and means detachablyconnecting the disk anddome in relatively rotatable relation. 1 i H i i.-A-toy flying saucerwhich comprises an in-- verted saucer-shaped circular s'heetmemb'er-having an aerodynamic shape I affording :a lift' surface, a circular diskon the bottom of said member, and means connecting the disk and memberin relatively rotatable relation, whereupon the member may rotaterelative-to the disk to pro- ,Vide therewith a gyroscopicallystabilizedair foil section of aerodynamic shape. a

5. A toy flying saucer whichcompris'es --an' iii"- verted bowl having'acircular periphery, an inverted flat conical disk spanning the open' bottomof the bowlin substantially flush relation with the periphery of thebowl, saiddisk extending downwardly to a level at the-center thereofbelowthe periphery of thebowl'for'coacting with the bowl to form abottom air-foil surface with low drag characteristics, and meansconnecting the floor disk-and bowl in relatively rotatable relation. l

6. A toy flying saucerwhich comprisesanimverted circular bowl having aradial lip, an annular bowed portion affording a good lift surface, anda substantially flat dome, said annular lift surface having transparentportions simulating windows, a spindle assembly fixedly carried by thedome, a circular disk rotatably mounted on the spindle assembly andspanning the open bottom of the bowl, and a tail member on said diskhaving a rudder for holding the disk against rotation.

7. A toy flying saucer comprising an inverted saucer, a disk spanningthe open bottom of the saucer, a spindle assembly connecting the saucerand disk in relatively rotatable relation, said spindle assembly adaptedto rotate with the bowl, a bomb release mechanism actuated by therotating spindle assembly, and a rudder member on said floor holding thefloor against rotation.

8. A toy flying saucer which comprises an inverted saucer member havinga hollow interior, a circular disk spanning the hollow interior of thesaucer, bomb support mechanism on said disk, a pilot station on saiddisk, a spindle assembly rotatably connecting the saucer and disk,mechanism operated by said spindle assembly for releasing the bombsupport mechanism, and a rudder on said disk projecting into theslipstream beyond said saucer to hold the disk against rotation.

9. A toy flying saucer which comprises an inverted bowl member, acircular disk spanning the open bottom of the bowl member, a spindleassembly rotatably mounting the disk and bowl, first compressed gasmeans carried by the bowl for rotating the bowl, second compressed gasmeans carried by the disk for imparting a forward thrust to theassembly, and detachable means on the spindle assembly for separatingthe bowl and disk to give access to said compressed gas means.

10. A toy flying saucer comprising a bowl, a disk spanning the bowlmouth and projecting therebeyond said bowl and disk cooperating toprovide an aerodynamic airfoil, means rotatably mounting the center ofthe disk on the bowl, and a rudder on the bowl for holding the bowlagainst rotation when the disk rotates and the toy scars in the air.

i 11. A toy flying saucer comprising an inverted bowl-shaped member, afloor member spanning the open bottom of the bowl-shaped member, meansconnecting said members in rotatable relation, and said members coactingto provide an aerodynamic airfoil adapted to soar through the airwhereby one member may rotate relative to the other member togyroscopically stabilize the airfoil as it soars through the air.

12, A toy flying, saucer comprising an inverted bowl-shaped member, afloor member spanning the open bottom of the bowl-shaped member, meansconnecting said members in rotatable relation, said members coacting toprovide an aerodynamic airfoil adapted to soar through the air, and arudder on one member restraining said one member against rotation as theassembly .soars through the air while the other member rotates tog-yroscopically stabilize the flight.

13. A toy flying saucer comprising an inverted saucer-shaped member, afloor member spanning the open bottom of the saucer-shaped mem-.- ber,means connecting said members in rotatabie relation, said connectedmembers coacting to provide an aerodynamic airfoil with a circularradially extending rim flange and a hollow dome portion with a side faceaifording an aerodynamic lift surface, and said rotatably connectedmembers adapted to soar through the air with one of the members rotatingabout the axis or the other member to gyroscopically stabilize flight.

14. A toy flying saucer comprising an inverted bowl member, a diskspanning the open bottom of the bowl member, means connecting saidmembers in rotatable relation, said members coacting to provide anaerodynamic airfoil adapted to soar through the air, and motor means forrotatin one member about the axis of the other member to gyroscopicall-ystabilize flight of the assembly.

15. A toy flying saucer which comprises an inverted bowl member, a floormember spanning the open bottom of the bowl member, means connectingsaid members in rotatable relation, said members coacting to provide anaerodynamic airfoil adapted to soar through the air with one memberrotating relative to the other member for gyroscopically stabilizing theflight, and a motor means for imparting a forward thrust to theassembly.

CARROLL H. VAN HARTESVELDT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

